Process of and apparatus for chilling paraffine-oils



UNrri-zn STATES THOMAS l). FAlltFllilliD,

PATENT OFFICE.,

01, ULISH'ELANI), GU10.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CHILLlNG PARAFFINE- lLS, 8.o.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,016, dated December 11, 1883. Application filed November 9. 1853. (No model.)

To ali whom, il; 11mg/ concer/L:

Be it known that I, THOMAS l). FAIRFIELD, of Cleveland, inthe county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Process of and Apparatus for Chilling ParafIine-Oils, Src.; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and complete description thereof.

In the process of extracting pai-affine from petroleum and other paraffine-oi'ls. said oils are first chilled or frozen before being subjected to the press forV extracting therefrom the crude paraffine, -for the above-specified chilling or freezing of the paraftine-oils is the special purpose of the apparatus above alluded to, the construct-ion of which is substantially as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a Iperspective side view of the apparatus, showing the upper part ot" the inclosing shell `or case open, that the inside thereof maybe seen. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, with the inclosing case or shell closed. sectional view.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

The body of the aforesaid apparatus consists of a cylindrical shell or case divided longitudinally into two sections, A and B. Section B-the lower part of the case-is supported upon legs C, or ou other; suitable supports.

l) is a hollow cylinder, through which passes a hollow shaft, (indicated by thedotted lines a.) Fig. el represents a detached portion of said shaft. The ends of the shaft projecting, respectively, through the ends of the cylinder serve as tubular journals on which the cylinder revolves, and which have their bearings in the ends of section B of the case.

To the end of said hollow shaft, or the tubular journal B thereof, is connected a pipe, E, by means of a rotative 'sleeve-coupling similar to such as are inordinary use for connecting revolving tubular shaftings and pipes; hence a description of the coupling is not eS- sential, as the same is well known in the arts. rFhe pipe E alluded to extends from the cylinder to a receptacle, F, in which it terminates, the use of which will presently be shown.

Fig. 3 isa transverse To the opposite end of the hollow shaft, or the tubular journal thereof, is in like manner connected a pipe, G, extending therefrom to a tank, H, elevated above the cylinder, as seen in the drawings.

Longitudinally along the side of said cylinder D is arranged an adjustable scraper or knife, I, which, by means of adjusting-screws b-one at each end of the scraper-the scraper may be adjusted in tactile relation to the face of the cylinder, or at a `distance therefrom, as may be required. One of the above mentioned adjusting-screws, in its connection with the scraper, is shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of said scraper will presently be shown.

From the lower edge of the scraper, and lengthwise therewith, extends to the trough or box K an inclined chute, J, for conducting therefrom to the box the material scraped oit from the surface of the cylinder.

Along the top of section A oi' the shell or case inclosing thc cylinder l.) isa hopper or funnel, L, communicating with the interior of the case by perlbratons in the bottom thereof, as seen at c in Fig. 1. ln said funnel terininates one end of a pipe, M. The opposite end of the pipe extends to and con'nnunicates with the interior of an oil-tank, N, located above the case, that the contents of the tank may flow therefrom into the funnel.

. As hereinbeforc said, the above-described apparatus is for chilling or freezing paraffineoils preparatory for the press for extracting therefrom crude paraffinc, the chilling being a step in the process of producing paraffine from parafiine-oils. To this end the cylinder D is charged with a refrigerant fluid, which may consist of brine or other suitabeliquid refrigerating agent contained in the tan if or vessel H, which flows therefrom through the pipe Gr into the tubular shaft a of the refrigeratingcylinder D, and is discharged into the cylinder through the perforations in the hollow shaft, whereby the cylinder is reduced to a low degree of temperature. The oil to be chilled is conducted by the pipe M from the oil-taukN to the funnel L, from which it falls through its foraniinous bottoni upon the surface of the relrigerating cylinder inclosed in the case now closed, as seen in Fig. 2. As the oil is continued to be (preferably) sprayed upon the refrigerating-cylinder, thc cyli nder is revolved IOO by a belt applied to the drum or pulley O, or by other equivalent means. As the oil chills upon the surface of the revolving refrigerating-cylinder and accumulates thereon, it is scraped ofi' from time to time by the scraper, which maybe forced inward by the adjustingscrews b more or less, as required; or the scraper may remain stationary and the frozen material scraped off continuously as fast as it gathers on the surface of the cylinder. The material thus scraped oft' falls into the chute J, and is conducted thereby into the box K, from which it is taken and prepared for the press. The refrigerant fluid passing into the cylinder flows therefrom through the eduction-pipe E into the vessel F, from which itis returned through the pipe N to the tank H by a force-pump, l?, (which maybe such as are in ordinary use and well known in the arts,`) and again used for cooling the revolving cylinder by being conducted therein, as above described. By this means is established a ci rculation of a refrigerant fluid through the revolving refrigerating-eylinder, keeping it in a low degree of temperature and pnexposcd to the outside air by being coveret by the case i-n which it revolves, so that chilling or freezing the paraftinizcd oil is quickly and effectually done, and removed therefrom with facility, as above described.

I do not confine myself to the use of an aqueous fluid for chilling the cylinder, as cold air or ammoniacal gas may bc employed for that purpose substantially in thc same way. rlhe induction into the cylinder and its eduction therefrom of the refrigerant fluid are regulated by the cocks d and c, and the supply ot' oil from the tank N is regulated by the cock e'. Should the oil congeal upon the face of the cylinder sufficiently fast, the scraper maybe allowed to remain adjusted thereto, so as to continually scrape off the frozen mass, or adjusted from time to time for that purpose, as above said. If the petroleum-oil or other parafline-oil contained in the tank N be too heavy or thick to flow readily therefrom to the refrigerating-eylinder, an ordinary force-pump may be en1- ployed to impel it therein, which may be attached to the pipe M, or elsewhere, for that purpose.

The refrigerating-cylinder may revolve on tubular journals or trunnions, which may exf tend into the cylinder for discharging the refrigerant therein, instead of a hollow perforated shaft passing through it, and the ends of the shaft serving as journals for the cylinder.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an apparatus for freezing or chilling paraffine-oils,ahollowrevolvingrefrigeratingcylinder provided with tubular trunnions on which to revolve, or a hollow perforated shaft, the ends of which form journals for the cylinder, and through one end of which shaft the cylinder is charged with a refrigerant fluid by being connected to an induction-pipe leading from a vessel containing said refrigerant fluid, and the opposite end of the shaft connected to an eduction-pipe, in combination with an inclosing shell or case, substantially as herein described, antl for the purpose set forth.

2. Armi'gcd in relation to and in combination with tl'ie revolving refrigerating-cylinder, an ad j ustable scraper, chute, and receivingbox, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

In combination with the case and revolving refrigerating-eylinder, an induction oilpipe extending from the oil-tank to the inclosing-case and terminating in the foraminous bottom funnel communicating with the interior ofthe case, for discharging upon the refrigerating-cylinder revolving in said case the parafiine-oil for being chilled,substantially as herein set forth.

4. An appara-tus for chilling or freezing par affine-oils, consistingof ahollow revolving cylinder provided with tubular truunion or ahollow perforated shaft on which to revolve, and by which the cylinder is charged with a refrigerant 1in id, and discharged thereof by being connected to induction and eductlon pipes, adj ustable scraper, chute, and inclosing shell or ease, provided with a foraminous bottom funnel, through which to discharge upon the refrigerating-cylind-er the paratinc-oil to be chilled, substantially as herein set forth.

ln the process of chilling or freezing paraliine-oils, depositing the said oils upon ahollow revolving refrigeratiiig-cylinder charged with a refrigerant agent and removing the chilled mass from the surface of the cylinder by a scraper, from which it is taken for further treatment for separating the paraftine form the oil, substantially as herein set forth.

I n testimony whereof I allix nx y signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS D. FAIRFIELD.

Witnesses:

J. H. lnnuincrz, C. l-I. TURKEY.

IOS 

